Pharmacists in this province played a significant role in vaccination this flu season, and they hope to be similarly involved in administering the COVID vaccine.
The first large rollout is expected in the spring with everyone who wishes to be inoculated having been done so by September. However, some supply issues have cropped up since those objectives were initially spelled out.
Janice Audeau, president of the Pharmacy Association of Newfoundland and Labrador and who practices in Corner Brook, says pharmacists have reached out to government to discuss ways they could play a role.
There are over 800 pharmacists and 200 drug stores in the province, many of which are open evenings and weekends.
Of the 231,000 flu shots administered in NL so far, about 40 per cent were given by pharmacists.
They are familiar with situations which require more than one shot to complete the process, and she says cold storage would not be a problem.
With more than 700 pharmacists in over 200 community pharmacies across NL, pharmacists are ideally situated to play a key role in vaccinating all NLers against COVID-19. Read more at https://t.co/4UVhrjleJE. #ReadytoVaccinate #COVID19Vaccine @CMOH_NL @HCS_GovNL https://t.co/ugPcBoOaO1 pic.twitter.com/RpIUil9T9g
— PANL (@PANLupdates) January 12, 2021